A missive sent to 2,000 journalists covering the event warned them against being drunk and acting unprofessionally.

The South African Governmen Communication and Information System said: “Any member of the media believed to be intoxicated, under the influence of mood-altering substances or acting in an unprofessional manner will have their media accreditation revoked and be escorted out of the media area with possible denial of future accreditation to individual perpetrators and/or their affiliated media organisation."